The whole valley echoed with the crash of the cannon, and the vast clouds of smoke began to gather again.

The Union forces suffered heavy losses, but still held their ground.
Harry thought, while this comparative lull in close fighting was going on, that Dalton and he should get back to General Lee with news of what was occurring, although he had no doubt the commander-in-chief was now advancing as fast as he could with the full strength of the army.

Still, duty was duty.

They had been sent forward that they might carry back reports, and they must carry them.
"It's time for us to go," he said to Dalton.
"I was just about to say that myself." "We can safely report to the general that the vanguards have met at Gettysburg and that there are signs of a battle." Dalton took a long, comprehensive look over the valley in which thirty or forty thousand men were merely drawing a fresh breath before plunging anew into the struggle, and said: "Yes, Harry, all the signs do point that way.

I think we can be sure of our news." They had not been able to catch any of the riderless horses galloping about the field, and they started on foot, taking the road which they knew would lead them to Lee.